Shenna's parent stood at the base of the boarding ramp, emotions tangled in their chests. Shock. Pride. Anxiety. Hesitation.
After a brief, quiet discussion, they made a decision. They would not board the ship. And they would not take Shenna away.
Even if it meant offending the Zane family. Even if it meant jeopardizing the marriage alliance.
At this point, taking their daughter away from a banquet of this scale was impossible.
Shenna's father took out his phone and dialed the Zane family. If they couldn't solve the situation themselves, they would lay the problem out directly. Let the Zane family decide.
The call connected quickly. The person who answered was Adrian Zane, the Zane family's adopted son. Despite his adopted status, Adrian was capable and deeply trusted by the family patriarch. Aside from lacking inheritance rights, his authority and standing were no different from a direct heir.
As soon as the line connected, Adrian spoke. "Uncle, it's quite late. Why haven't you arrived at the banquet venue yet?"
His tone was heavy. "I'm very sorry. Something unexpected happened." He paused. "Jason may not know we already arranged a birthday banquet, but he's also hosting one for Shenna tonight. Our family profited greatly from his investment guidance. We can't refuse his hospitality."
Adrian's voice remained calm, but a trace of displeasure seeped through. "Our banquet was planned long in advance. It wasn't arranged last minute. You're giving Jason face, but not the Zane family?"
He hurried to apologize. "I'm truly sorry. This birthday banquet was meant to show our sincerity."
Adrian replied coolly. "One matter is one matter. The banquet is already underway. If your daughter doesn't attend, isn't that a direct slap to the Zane family's face?" He paused. "Perhaps the Shen family doesn't value this marriage alliance after all."
He frowned, unsure how to respond.
At that moment, She took the phone from his hand. Her voice was polite but firm. "We do have our difficulties. It's not a lack of sincerity." She spoke carefully. "How about this—your Zane family sends someone to Jason's banquet as well. See the situation personally. See Jason's sincerity. We'll speak to Jason later, and when the time is right, we'll bring Shenna over. Attending two birthday banquets in one day is manageable if we arrange the timing."
He glanced at her, expression complicated. He understood her real intention. She wanted to use Jason's influence and the scale of the banquet to pressure the Zane family.
The idea wasn't bad, but invoking Jason's prestige so openly could be risky. If it created friction between the Zane family and Jason, that would be disastrous. Still, given the circumstances, there seemed no better solution.
Adrian fell silent for a moment. "I'll discuss it with my father." The line disconnected.
After a long wait, he called back. "We agree to your proposal."
About an hour later, a black executive sedan bearing the Zane family crest arrived at the pier. The car door opened. A refined, handsome young man stepped out.
It was Adrian Zane. He wore a scholarly, elegant demeanor, but beneath that gentleness lay authority.
As soon as he stepped onto the dock, his gaze swept across the surroundings. Rows of ultra-luxury vehicles. Endless elite guests. And the towering Blue Sea Pearl dominating the harbor.
Even he couldn't help but frown. Just the surface spectacle alone was extravagant beyond measure.
He stepped forward quickly, apologetic. "I'm sorry to trouble you into making the trip personally."
Adrian waved lightly. "Uncle, you're an elder. No need to be so polite." Then his tone cooled. "But what you did this time was inappropriate. If Zane didn't genuinely like Shenna, I wouldn't have come at all." He looked at them. "If you can't even manage your own affairs, then perhaps there's no need for a marriage alliance."
With that, he walked toward the boarding ramp. They hurried behind, continuing to offer explanations and apologies.
Adrian didn't have an invitation either. But when the event manager verified his identity, the man's expression changed. He stepped aside and personally escorted them aboard.
They ascended the gangway, entered the cruise ship, and stepped into the main banquet hall.
Inside, it was already bustling with life. Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead. Live orchestral music flowed through the air. Business titans, social elites, and industry leaders filled the hall, raising glasses and exchanging conversations.
The scale, the atmosphere, the prestige—even Adrian Zane's composed expression stiffened upon witnessing it firsthand.
Only now did he realize tonight's birthday banquet was far beyond an ordinary celebration.
The moment they stepped into the banquet hall, all three fell silent.
The interior of the cruise ship had been transformed into something straight out of a fairytale. Crystal chandeliers shimmered like frozen starlight overhead. Cascading ribbons and soft pink drapery framed the hall. Floral arches lined the pathways, each arrangement customized to Shenna's aesthetic—elegant, gentle, and dreamlike.
It wasn't just luxurious. It was personalized. A birthday world built around one girl.
All three were veterans of high society. They had attended charity galas, corporate banquets, political fundraisers, even private royal receptions abroad. Yet looking at this setup, they still felt overwhelmed.
The wine display alone was enough to make one's scalp tingle. Top-tier Moutai. Rare vintage Bordeaux. Limited-production Romanée-Conti. Each bottle worth tens, sometimes hundreds, of thousands of dollars.
And they weren't locked behind glass. They were stacked openly across the wine wall like complimentary beverages. A rough glance suggested at least two hundred bottles.
The dining area was even more absurd. French Belon oysters. A5 Kobe Wagyu. Italian white truffles shaved fresh on site. Bordeaux blue lobsters. Alaskan king crab. Caviar flown in the same morning.
They were arranged in a grand circular buffet, like ordinary dishes at a budget hotel brunch.
Professional sommeliers moved between guests. Celebrity chefs personally handled live cooking stations. Adrian recognized several of them—they were signature executive chefs from Cuisine Manor, one of the most exclusive culinary institutions in North America.
His eyebrows twitched. This banquet's extravagance had already crushed the Zane family's birthday banquet by multiple tiers. No—by an entirely different dimension.
Then he looked at the guests. And his breathing stopped for half a second.
Ethan. David. Robert.
His scalp tingled. But that wasn't the end of it. There were more. Several more figures—each one a billionaire heavyweight. Any single one of them could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with there family.
Yet now, they were all gathered here. For Shenna's birthday.
They had recognized the first three earlier. But the others who boarded before them, they were seeing clearly only now. And the shock hit them again.
There were seven, maybe eight, billionaires present.
She lowered her voice. "If I'm not mistaken, that's Matthew, chairman of New Energy." She shifted her gaze. "And that's Sophia Fang, chairwoman of JC Culture Media."
His eyes widened as he continued scanning. "That's Ryan. And over there—global investors, shipping magnates, venture capital founders." He exhaled slowly. "Business leaders from across the country, even overseas. Josh and Kevin have ongoing partnerships with Jason, so their presence isn't surprising."
Earlier, they had felt the guest list was overwhelming. Even knowing it wasn't for their daughter, they had joked it might shorten her lifespan from pressure alone. But now, they realized they had underestimated the scale entirely.
Compared to the guests present, the cruise ship, the wine, the cuisine—all became secondary.
Could you imagine so many billionaires present that you couldn't even name them all?
At that moment, a soft stir passed through the hall. Heads turned. Conversations paused.
At the end of the grand corridor, Jason and Shenna appeared.
Shenna had changed into a gown tailored personally by a design team. The dress shimmered like moonlight woven into silk, accentuating her elegance without a trace of vulgar extravagance. She looked like a fairy untouched by the mortal world. Pure. Radiant. Unreal.
And beside her, Jason walked calmly, as if this entire spectacle were nothing more than routine.
One after another, billionaire tycoons stepped forward. They raised glasses. They offered birthday wishes. Their attitudes were courteous, almost respectful. They treated Shenna not merely as Jason's companion, but as someone worthy of equal regard.
Adrian's face paled as he watched. The imposing aura he carried earlier had vanished. Looking closer, even his fingers were trembling at his sides.
At this moment, he no longer resembled a proud heir of the Zane family. He looked more like an attendant standing at the edge of a royal court.
The plan he came with—to speak with Jason, to say the Zane family banquet was ready, to request taking Shenna away—he didn't dare mention a single word now.
Instead, he quietly retreated to a secluded corner. He pulled out his phone and called his father. His expression was grave as he reported everything he had just witnessed. The scale. The guests. The influence. The spectacle.
When he finished, the other end of the line fell silent. No anger. No instructions. Only heavy breathing, echoing faintly through the phone.
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